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Why Seven Hours of Sleep Might Be Better Than Eight

Sleep experts close in on the optimal night's sleep

It's the holy grail of questions: how many hours of sleep should we ideally get per night? We've heard the magic number eight, but experts are working to come up with a more refined, evidence-based number. WSJ's Sumathi Reddy joins Tanya Rivero on Lunch Break with the details. Photo: iStock/dolgachov

Experts generally recommend seven to nine hours a night for healthy adults. Sleep scientists say new guidelines are needed to take into account an abundance of recent research in the field and to reflect that Americans are on average sleeping less than they did in the past.